High-speed forging press



Feb. 25, 1941. F. w. SPENCER HIGH-SPEED FORGING PRESS Filed March 15, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 25, 1941. F. w. SPENCER HIGH-SPEED FORGING PRESS Filed March 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iik 00 Feb. 25, .1941- F. w. SPENCER HIGH-SPEED FORGING PRESS Filed March 13, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet W ZJ 5 W L E? FW n D@ ||||5G rl. 1175 Tg ueshape'd "frame 5.

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 PATENT OFFICE HIGH-SPEED FORGING PRESS YFrank William Spencer, Hayle, England application March 13, 1939, serial No. 261,599 1 `In Great Britain December 23, 1938 `8k Claims.

' This invention relatesto an improved forging press 4and has for its object to proviclea construction and mode of operation which combines all the advantages ofthe existing type of crank press 5 with" those of a dro-p hammer, breaking down hammer and trimming press.

A further object of the invention is to provide a -forging press capable of a high speed of operation so that the output permachine can beconsiderably increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically operated forging press capable of performing a plurality "of different operations on a wide variety of work.

1 The improved machine may be defined as a double-'action twinmdrive forging press and comprises' brieiiy a stationary rigid frame, 'abottomdie-carrying member slidably arranged therein, ha top-die-carrying member slidably mounted in 5m first member, anda crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said frameand operatively connected Lwith Ysaid members for simultaneously reciprocating the latter in' opposite vdirections towards and away'irom each other.

In the accompanyingdrawings, liigure i is a iront elevation of the improved forging press. A'iigure 2 is aside elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is Aa `detail view of onejof the roller clutches.

`Eigure 4 is a plan View of the machine. vFigure 5 is a detail sectional View on the line 5 5 of Figure 5 showing the fine adjustment 'meansior the ram.

Figure ii is a vertical sectional View on the line (of-e6 in Figure 5.

Figure *Z is a vertical sectional View on. the line `'if-,lin Figure 5.

Throughout the drawings like parts are desig- 40 hated by similar reference characters.

45 section side members 3, 3 and a transverse girder section top member "ll-.j

The bottom-die-carrying member consists of a forged steel U-sh`aped frame 5 and is arranged "to slide vertically between guides 3ab carried by 50 "the vertical members '3, 3 of the main frame.

*The top-die-carrying member consists of a rain' G which-is either forged or made of cast f steel and is arranged to slide vertically between t4guides 51a ori-the inner iacesoifthelimbs of the I` f I (Cl. 'Z8-20) The crank-shaft 'I is rotatably mounted in bearings 8 carried by the upper part of the main frame and is of large diameter with three cranks machined out of the solid, none of the crank pins extending beyond the periphery of the shaft. 6 The outer cranks 9, 9 are connected one to each limb of the U-shaped frame 5 carrying the bottom dies I0. The centre crank II is connected with the ram Ii carrying the top dies. I2 and is arranged at180 to and has a ,greater throw than yl() the outer cranks.

The operation oi the machine is such that as the crank-shaft rotates the top and bottom dies carried respectively by the ram and the Ushaped frame advance towards and recede from each other, Athe bottom dies having half the travel of the top dies.

The crank-shaft is preferably driven from b-oth ends for which purpose each end where it protrudes from its adjacent'bearing 8 in the main 20 `frame is tted with a gear wheel I3 of large diameter. Each of these gear Wheels is mounted upon a clutch which in View of the large diameter of the crank-shaft may be of the roller type shown'in Figure 3. By employing a suinciently "25 large number of rollers the load per roller is reduced and the machine may be started instantaneously Without shock. The said clutches are under the control of the operator by means of apedal I 4- which is connectedrby means of 730 rod-s I5 with bell crank levers I6 pivoted on the main frame at I'I. One arm I8 of each of these levers abuts against a` projection I9 carried by a cage carryingv the rollers 2|. The rollers work between a hard steel ring 22 in the gear |v 35 Wheels and the flat cam faces 23 or a hard steel ring 24 xed to the crank shaft l. The cage is connected with a part rotating with the crankshaft, such as the ring 24, or a brake drum, by means of a tension spring 25 which normally '40 tends to .turn the cage in the direction of rotation of the gear wheel to bring the clutch into operation.. 'When the machine is at rest the arms I8 of the bell crank levers engage the projections I9 and hold the cages 20 in the position shown a in Figure 3 in which the rollers 2| are. in their inoperative positions allowing the gear wheels I3 to `rotate idly. In starting the machine the operator depresses the pedal I4. This moves the arms I3 of the bell crank levers out of engagement with the projections I9 on the roller cages which are then turned by their springs 25 to bring the rollers `into their operative positions between the rings 22 and 24 and establishing aus@ instantaneous drive between the gear wheels and the crank-shaft.

The two gear wheels I3 are driven simultaneously by means of pinions 26 keyed to a countershaft 2l carried in bearings in brackets 28 formed on or attached to the rear of the main frame. The said countershaft carries a pair of fly-wheels 29 one of which is arranged to be driven by means of a belt 36 from an electric motor 3l mounted on a platform 32 at the top of the machine. The said platform is pivoted at one end 33 to the top transverse member 4 of the main frame and is supported at ythe other end by a pair of adjustable stays 34 pivotally secured at their other ends to the main frame. ByY means of k this arrangement the tension of the driving belt 30 can be adjusted by lengthening or shortening the length of the stays by turning the nuts 35. u

Friction slipping devices of any well known and suitable kind are introduced between thelfiy wheels and the countershaft so that in the event of displacement of the billet outside the die impression, or through excessive overload caused in any other way, the fly wheels 29 can slip on the countershaft and in this way release the kinetic energy of the fly wheels and prevent damage to the machine.

Alternatively, the two gear wheels may be keyed to the crankshaft, in which case a single flywheel constantly rotating on a sleeve is'coupled to the pinion shaft by means of a pedal controlled friction clutch. l

The centre crank I I of the crank shaft is connected with the ram 6 by means of a connecting rod 36 and pin 3l and provisionis preferably made for ne adjustment of the stroke of the ram carrying the top dies l2 relatively to that of the U-shaped frame 5 carrying the bottom dies IU. For this purpose, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, two eccentric sleeves 33 are introduced between the pin 3l and its bearing in the ram 6 and are adapted to be partially rotated simultaneously and to an equal extent to raise or lower the ram by means of an adjustable block 39 which is recessed to receive the ends of arms 46 on the eccentric sleeves and is arranged to slide ina direction at right angles' to the axis of said sleeves in a recess 4I in the ram under the influence of a rotatable screw 42 carrying a nut 43 engaging the block 39. The upper surface of the 'latter is inclined in the direction of its length and cci-operates with a metal pad 44 engaging the end of the connecting rod 36, the arrangement being such that, when the block 39 is adjusted to raise or lower the ram, the pad is maintained in contact with the connecting rod thereby providing a solid abutment between the latter and the rain at all positions of adjustment.

The outer cranks 9, 9 of the crank-shaft engage blocks 46 which are free to slide laterally in housings 41 formed or attached to the limbs of the U-shaped member 6 which are preferably braced together at their upper ends by means of a pair of transverse bars 48.

The crankshaft is provided at each side with a brake drum 49 having an adjustable brake band 56 embracing the top portion thereof and anchored at each end to the main frame. The pressure of these bands on their drums is adjusted by means of the screws 5l. The said brake drums are preferably slightly eccentric and arranged so that the maximum braking effect occurs when the'ram is at the top of its stroke. "'1' I There may be any desired number of top and bottom dies. In the example shown in Figure 1 the centre dies have three impressions of progressive depths, the finishing impression being preferably in the middle. In the case shown 5 there is also a set of dies at the right hand side for fullering, flattening and cutting off and a trimming punch and die at the left hand side.

yMajor adjustments of the height of the bottom dies can be made by using bolsters 52 of varying thicknesses or by means of a wedge plate under the bolster.

l The improved machine has many advantages apart from its primary function. For example, it is possible by balancing the masses of the oppositely reciprocating parts to operate the machine at high speeds and to eliminate the use of air cylinders and other devices, such as are required to balance the ram in the usual type of press. Moreover, since part of the stroke of the press is provided by the two outer cranks it is possible to obtain more daylight between the top and bottom dies for a crank-shaft of a given size. Again, since the stresses set up during the forging operation are carried by the crank-shaft and the U-shaped frame there is no necessity to brace the main frame as is the case in an ordinary press in which only the top dies are operated.

The improved machine is particularly useful in cases where components of non-ferrous and light alloys require gradual reduction and a squeeze rather than a blow such as is given by a drop hammer. It is also an advantage for the operator to be able to trim the flash and examine for defects without leaving the machine particularly in the case of alloy steels that have to be trimmed hot.

I claim:

1. A forging press comprising a stationary 40 rigid frame, die-carrying members movable therein, a crank-shaft operatively connected with said members and adapted to move the latter simultaneously in opposite directions to cause the respective dies of said members to approach and recede from each other, eccentric bushes between one of said members and its connection with said crank-shaft, and means for rotating said bushes for adjusting said member in relation to the other.

2. A forging press comprising a stationary rigid frame, die-carrying members movable therein, a crank-shaft operatively connected with said members and adapted to move the latter simultaneously in opposite directions to cause the respective dies of said members to aproach and recede from each other, one of said members being adjustable in relation to the other, and means for maintaining a solid abutment between said adjustable member and its connection with said crank-shaft.

3. A forging press comprising a stationary rigid frame, die-carrying members movable therein, a crank-shaft operatively connected with said members and adapted to move the latter simultaneously in opposite directions to cause the respective dies of said members to approach yand recede from each other, means for adjusting one of said members in relation to the other and for automatically maintaining a solid abutment between said adjustable member and its connection with said crankshaft comprising a connecting rod, adapted for operation by a crank of said crank-shaft, a pin connecting said rod with said adjustable member. a pair oi' eccentric bushes between said pin and said rod, a pad between the end of said rod and said member and means for rotating said bushes and at the same time for adjusting the position of said pad.

4. A forging press comprising a rigid stationary main frame; a crank shaft journalled in the upper part of said frame for rotation in a hori- Zonta] plane, said crank shaft being formed with a pair of outer cranks and acenter crank medially disposed between said outer cranks, said center crank being disposed at 180 degrees to said outer cranks; a bottom die carrying member comprising a substantially U-shaped frame disposed for Vertical reciprocation in said, main frame, housings formed in the respective limbs of said U-shaped frame, and bearing blocks disposed ior lateral sliding movement in` said respective housings, said bearing blocks being journalled about said respective outer cranks; in combination with a top die carrying member comprising a ram disposed for vertical reciprocation between and guided by the limbs of said U-shaped frame, and a connecting rod journalled to said center crank at one end and pivotally connected at its other end to said ram, whereby simultaneous vertical reciprocation in opposite directions of said respective die carrying membersl is produced by rotation of said crank shaft.

5. A forging press comprising` a yrigid stationary main frame, a crank shaft journalled in said frame forrotation in a horizontal plane, said crank shaft being formed with a pair of outer cranks and a center crank disposed at 180 degrees to said outer cranks, a substantially U- shaped frame disposed for vertical reciprocation in said main frame, housings formed in the respective limbs of said U-shaped frame, and bearing blocks -disposed for lateral sliding movement in said housings, said bearing blocks being journalled about said respective outer cranks, in `combination with a ram disposed for vertical reciprocation between and guided by the limbs of said U-shaped frame, and a connecting rod journalled to said center crank at one end and pivotally connected at its other end to said ram.

6. A forging press comprising a rigid stationary main frame, a crank shaft journalled in said frame for rotation in a horizontal plane,

said crank shaft being formed with a pair of outer cranks and a center crank disposed at substantially 180l degrees to said outer cranks, a substantially U-shaped frame disposed for vertical reciprocation in said main frame, and bearing blocks disposed for lateral sliding movement in the respective limbs of said U-shaped frame, said bearing blocks being journalled about said respective outer cranks, in combination with a ram disposed for Vertical reciprocation between and guided by the limbs of said U-shaped frame, and a connecting rod operatively connecting said center crank and said ram to produce Vertical reciprocation of said ram during rotation of said crank.

'7. A forging press comprising a rigid stationary main frame, a crank shaft journalled for rotation in said frame and formed with a pair of outer cranks and a center crank disposed at substantially 180 degrees to said outer cranks, a substantially U-shaped frame disposed for reciprocation in said main frame, and bearing blocks disposed for lateral sliding movement in the respective limbs of said U-shaped frame, said `bearing blocks being journalled about said respective outer cranks, in combination with a ram disposed for reciprocation between and guided by the limlbs of said U-shaped frame, and a connecting rod operatively connecting said center crank and said ram to produce reciprocation of said ram during rotation of said crank.

8. A forging press comprising a rigid stationary main frame, a crank shaft journalled for rotation in said frame and formed with a pair of outer cranks and a center crank disposed at substantially 180 degrees to said outer cranks, a substantially U-shaped frame disposed for reciprocation in said main frame, and means connecting said U-shaped frame to receive reciprocatory motion from the outer cranks during rotation of said crank shaft, in combination with a ram disposed for reciprocation between and guided by the limbs of said U-shaped frame, and means operatively connecting said center crank and said ram to produce reciprocation of said ram during rotation of said crank.

FRANK WILLIAM SPENCER. 

